First person: Ian Whitwham saw a place at Oxford as a ticket out of his working-class life - the only problem was that his mother, a stark reminder of all he'd left behind, was due on the next train ...

Liz Hollis's mother still fondly remembers the three toys she had as a child in the 50s. Liz herself also recalls most of her own from the 70s. But her children have so many that now even their toys have toys. Should we be concerned at such an excess?